BC farms > Thompson Okanagan & BC Rockies

Farm #1

Located in 4 km south of Kalso on a bench above Kootenay lake, this 8 ha mixed farm is in its infancy, focusing on establishing: market garden providing herbs, mushrooms and vegetables to local store and restaurant; bedding plants, orchard fruit and berries. Most of the main infrastructure needs to be built. Most of the farm land has been recently cleared of forest. The farm is off grid with no phone or electricity except for a generator. This is an ideal apprenticeship for someone who wants to learn how to start a farm from scratch. The building design and materials incorporate cheap, local and biodegradable materials. This Farm is also the home the Kootenay Agroforestry Society which manages 600 ha crown woodlot adjacent to the farm. Part of the apprenticeship will include forestry work. This could include tree planting, driving a bulldozer or excavator, milling lumber, paperwork, public education hosting workshops on eco-forestry..etc. You can live in a separate cabin with a wood hear stove. Meals are cooked and eaten together except weekends. Accept a couple. There is world class hiking, biking, skiing and water activities all throughout the area.

Location: Kaslo BC. 150 km west of Cranbrook, 3 hrs 35 minutes drive. 410 km east of Kelowna, 5 hr 30 minutes drive.

Farm #2

These farmers share over 50 years farming experience between themselves and currently operate a 25 acre organic farm, 4 miles from the small town of Peachland (1/2 hour from Kelowna) and Okanagan Lake in BC’s Okanagan Valley where they offer an organic farm management apprenticeship. They own livestock including horses and goats for milking from with they make cheese and yogurt. They grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and berries sold locally to stores, restaurants, and customers, and use their greenhouse to grow gourmet salad mix. Apprentices learn animal husbandry, milking goats, how to prepare soil, weed, plant and harvest crops, haying operations, food preservation, etc. Apprentice would live in a trailer and share vegetarian meals. We have fun as well, swimming, walking, hiking, etc.

Location: Peachland, BC. 24 km southeast of Kelowna, 20 minutes drive.

Farm #3

Learn to farm in a remote natural setting located near the town of Edgewood in the west Kootenays surrounded by forest, mountains and nearby lakes. This small family farm grows mixed vegetables for their CSA as well as potatoes and garlic. The land is worked by hand with the help of two draft horses. Apprentices can learn about natural building as this family lives in a strawbale house, all aspects of growing, milking and cheese-making, establishing and orchard, canning and homebrewing. Apprentices live in their own trailer – meals can be shared. These farmers are interested in finding land partners.

Location: Edgewood, BC. 188 km east of Kelowna, 2 hr 50 minutes drive.

Farm #4 - New farm!

Apprentices will share their time between two farms, a small scale vegetable farm and a larger apple and cherry orchard. The farms are located in Cawston, in the Southern Interior of BC. Cawston is a beautiful, small farming village. There is great access to hiking, biking, swimming in the pristine Similkameen river, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Apprentices will get their own rooms in the orchard's worker's accomodation. There is a shared kitchen and bathroom. We will provide staple foods, fruits and vegetables, and a $300 stipend per month.

Location: Cawston, BC.

Farm #5 -Full for 2010, accepting apprentices for 2011.

This 25-acre farm on the Shuswap River in Mara produces vegetables and berries for two weekly farmer's markets (in Salmon Arm and Revelstoke), a winter box subscription program and some wholesale customers. Our focus is on practical and efficient production as the farm is the sole source of income for our family and several full-time employees. This is an opportunity to learn about farming as a viable occupation. Employees are integrated into the farm team and will have the opportunity work in and learn about all aspects of vegetable growing, including seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting and preparation for market. We offer a first year wage of $11.50/hour. Since living quarters are not provided, applicants should be prepared to seek out accommodation in the surrounding area or one of the nearby towns. A vehicle is highly recommended, as we are a half hour drive from the nearest sizeable town. The farm borders the Shuswap River, and there are ample opportunities for hiking, swimming, canoeing and mountain biking in the vicinity.

Location: Salmon Arm, BC. 110 km north of Kelowna, 1 hr 35 minutes drive.

Farm #6

Join us on our 12 acre certified organic farm located near Enderby in the North Okanagan Shuswap. We are a family farm with 3 small children. We grow a large variety of vegetables and greenhouse tomatoes, which are sold through a C.S.A. program, farmers markets, and local stores. We use horse and tractor power, plus lots of hand work. We also run a small puppet museum on the farm and organize cultural events. Here is an opportunity to learn small scale intensive agriculture.

Location: Enderby, BC. 88 km north of Kelowna, 1 hr 10 minutes drive.

Farm #7

Established in 1962, this farm has always used organic growing methods. We are located in an environmentally unique area of desert and grassland on the Similkameen River, in southern BC. This area is renowned for its long, hot, dry summers and mild winters. On our farm we choose to cultivate crops that are particularly suited to our distinct growing conditions. This premise aids in water conservation, disease and pest control, and ensures a healthier, tastier product.

Our largest area of ground crop is devoted to varieties of winter squash. We also grow field cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, melon, peppers, herbs and fruit, and hothouse cucumbers and tomatoes. Our family’s long standing commitment to producing food using organic methods stems from concern for the environment, and an understanding of the role organic methods have in maintaining a healthy soil, producing nutritious foods, and promoting sustainable agriculture. You will have separate accommodation (cabins, an RV, tents in season) with full access to the house and amenities. Our diet is seasonal, focused on what we grow, with conscientious omnivorous options (our own eggs, chickens, and wild game). With full season commitment a stipend and production based bonus are possible.

Location: Cawston, BC. 110 km south of Kelowna, 1 hr 30 minutes drive.

Farm #8

Live on this 40 acre property which has a grand view of the Enderby Cliffs and valley and learn bee keeping, wood working, equipment manufacturing, and vegetable and grain growing. Help build an Earthship. The owner of this farm is passionate about building sustainable and has a 10 years experience keeping bees and many years experience foraging herbs. This farm will take apprentices year round but presently living arrangements are rustic. Open to couples.

Location: Enderby, BC. 93 km north of Kelowna, 1 hr 15 minutes drive.

Farm #9

Work with an experienced crew and meet international travelers on this 500-acre commercial farm in transition to organic of fields, forest, and beaver ponds in the beautiful Pemberton meadows. Learn about commercial market gardening, greenhouse work, cattle, farmers market, seed potatoes, bagged greens, and a harvest box program. Formal training includes reading materials, record keeping, financial and organic certification records. Cabin accommodation and a common kitchen where meals are shared.

Location: Savona, BC. 44 km west of Kamloops, 35 minutes drive.

Farm #10

Our 12 acre farm is located on the beautiful Shuswap River 13 km north of Enderby, BC. (Great swimming and canoeing). The garden takes up about 9 acres (4 leased) and the remainder is pasture for some dairy goats and horses. Our focus and sole income is vegetable growing and as an apprentice you will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of a successful market garden: VEGETABLE PRODUCTION: field preparation, seeding in plug trays and directly into the soil, transplanting young plants into the field, watering the seedlings and irrigation of the crops, organic methods of pest control, cultivating, hoeing, weeding by hand, etc PREPARING FOR MARKET: Harvesting ripe produce, sorting with quality control, washing, packaging or bunching, putting orders together, labelling, record keeping, storing vegetables appropriately in the cooler SELLING AT THE FARMERS MARKET: with focus on quality and appearance of the vegetables and the market stand and consumer satisfaction in mind. You will be working with Heino, a German trained market gardener with a lot of knowledge to share, the family members, another apprentice and occasional volunteers. You will be living in a cosy cabin or a spare room in the house and share your meals with the family and whoever else is around at the time. We enjoy food and the fresh vegetables very much, so meals are fun. Dishes and household chores are shared as well.

Location: Enderby, BC. 93 km north of Kelowna, 1 hr 20 minutes drive.

Farm #11 -Full for 2010, accepting apprentices for 2011.

We are a young family who farm approximately 40 acres in the beautiful Similkameen Valley. We strive on growing healthy food using organic methods and raising happy pastured animals. We sell our produce mostly at farmers markets and restaurants throughout the Vancouver area. We are a very diversified farm who care for and manage the land responsibly. We grow an array of produce from peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples, onions, peppers, tomatoes, corn, garlic and more. We have been farming since 2002 and finalist in the outstanding young farmer of the year, 3 years in a row- 2005, 2006, 2007. We have also won the organic harvest award from COABC for the best direct farm marketer. We believe in Organic sustainable farming but we also believe in energy efficiency and taking advantage of what mother nature provides to us. We use geothermal energy for heating and cooling our home. We also harvest the sun and use a air source heat pump for our new drying and 5 bedroom apprentice building witch includes full kitchen, bathroom, wash and drier. Transportation to & from Vancouver is available. Non-smoker. A stipend is offered.

Location: Cawston, BC. 112 km south of Kelowna, 1 hr 30 minutes drive.

Farm #12 -Full for 2010, Please apply for 2011.

Live in a very nice, cedar cabin with wraparound covered porch on this 10 acre mixed organic farm just outside the village of Sorrento where there are opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, swimming, boating, fishing, etc. This farm grows mixed vegetables, seeds, hops, tree fruits and raises animals. Learn self-sufficient gardening, commercial market gardening, fruit orchard management, greenhouse skills, Crops, pigs, poultry, bees, cooking, homesteading, organic seed growing, garlic growing for market, raising sheep and ducks, hops cultivation for on-farm microbrewery, tours and events for outreach to public . Monthly field days to other organic farms in area through local organic farming association and lots of other opportunities to learn. Stipend available.

Location: Sorrento, BC. 76 km north of Kamloops, 55 minutes drive.

Farm #13

Farm #14 -Full for 2010, Please apply for 2011.

Learn market gardening on this 126 acre certified organic working farm located 30 km from Sorrento on Suswap Lake. You will grow a full range of standard and specialty vegetables for home and restaurant delivery businesses both locally and in Vancouver as well as selling to the community through the local farmers market. Interns will learn: CROP PRODUCTION: field preparation, seed selection for continual and 1 time cropping, transplanting by hand and machine, seeding, timely weeding by hand and equipment, harvesting for the farmers market and specialty customers, handling and packing for optimum consumer quality. FIELD CARE: crop rotation, field planning, compost and nutrient needs, irrigation (drip and overhead), insect awareness and pest control, and cover cropping and incorporation. OTHER; seed growing including production , selection and harvesting. food preserving including root cellaring, canning and freezing, basic record keeping and all aspects of running our Farmers Market stand.

Location: Sorrento, BC. 79 km east of Kamloops, 1 hr drive.

Farm #15 -New Farm!!

This farm is a 25 acre farm locatedin south Cawston in between Keremeos & Osoyoos B.C. We are looking to find a couple of eager apprentices that really want to experience the reality of making a living off the farm, there is the lifesyle and food but also the self motivation and feeling apart of getting it all together as a team. To fill the truck and trailer with everything from basil to tomatoes and cherries apricots etc. Experiences range from planting a seed or tree to harvesting, from the importance of watering plants and animals to the joy of eating a fresh picked peach. Getting up early so you can play in the river in the heat of the day. Two small houses for workers are available. Mountain out the back door, river close by, town is 18 km away. Lots of biking and hiking & riding for experienced horse people. A stipened of 1,000 is offered. We like to work hard, play harder, eat really well,and sleep like babies.

Location: Cawston, BC.